There are currently openings for Adult and Children students. Interested candidates are invited to observe a class. The dojo is co-located with the Toledo Zen Center at 6537 Angola Road Holland, OH 43558 jayrinsenweik@gmail.com

Aikido is a non-competitive martial art that can be practiced by almost anyone. Aikido techniques do not rely on physical strength but rather develops relaxed power through the focus of intention and Ki. The result is a creative method of non-destructive conflict resolution.

Aikido is practiced on many levels. The first level is includes the development of stamina, flexibility, and learning how to focus one's intention. The second level is built on the first and stresses self-defense techniques that teach the natural order of movement. In this process the students also become adept at ukemi, the art of rolling, falling and protecting oneself. Aikido provides the opportunity for the development of the entire person. It is a workout of the entire body and mind and results in increased strength, overall physically fitness, flexibility and centeredness.

At the third level students are gradually introduced to the secrets of receiving and harnessing the power of ki, they also develop spatial awareness and learn to judge proper timing and distance. During this training the goal is to establish and maintain an energetic connection to your partner and to lead them off balance. This eliminates the need for more destructive means of resolving situations.

The highest level of aikido is mind over matter. This involves the use of visualization techniques, the power of intention and ki, breath control and meditation. Aikido is truly a spiritual martial art that explores themind - body - spirit connection. This advanced level of training at Shobu Aikido reaches a level not easily found elsewhere. The student learns how to manifest power and effectiveness by the focusing of intention alone. This level depends on and can only be reached through the refinement of technique and the students own deepest feeling. For this reason it alternates between the physical and the spiritual.

In the process of practicing aikido, students inevitably find themselves less stressed and more energetic, better equipped to manage life's many conflicts with calm control. Aikido is great for adults and kids alike because practice encourages respect for self and others, self control, cooperation and responsibility.

Gasshuku or weekend long intensive seminars with William Gleason Sensei are available seasonally.

Children's aikido classes provide a friendly, non-competitive environment for students to become more physically fit, agile, flexible, aware, focused, and relaxed. They learn how to safely fall, roll and perform a variety of self-defense techniques in a supportive, comfortable setting, and parents like Aikido because kids learn how to be powerful without becoming destructive.

The "Ki" to Success


Greetings everyone.  It was a wonderful class tonight at the dojo.  Perfect temperature and some good Aikido took place at Shobu.  Now that the orchestra season is over I can come to the Tuesday night classes and Sensei examines ki and how it is used in Ai-KI-do. 

I must say, if you think that it is hard to articulate Aikido technics in words, this material is next to impossible to write about. The biggest challenge in writing about ki is my lack of knowledge of this aspect of Aikido and the fact that it really is a feeling and how do you express a feeling?  It is like trying to explain what Beethoven’s 5th symphony sounds like to someone who cannot hear sound.  So much is lost in translation.

Some elements that I took away from tonight’s class is the importance to connect to uke’s ki meridians and in doing so unbalances uke.  This is an element that is extremely useful in performing kokyu nage (breath throws) technics. 

To me, ki is not so much about physical applications of Aikido as much as the importance of the mind although mudras (hand positions that shapes the direction of ki) are very important.  Sensei talked about how ki is like a beam that is similar to pole of energy that goes through our spine. What came clear to me towards the end of class is the need to extend that ki deep into the ground and far beyond my head at the same time.  The ki curves around like a wave coming under and over uke to connect to uke’s ki and then we can unbalance uke. 

This aspect is similar to orchestral conducting in the sense that when I am on the podium I am trying to influence not only the people near me in the strings but also the woodwinds and brass who are maybe 20 feet away.  So my gestures, body, hands, eyes, and most importantly my mind must connect with them to influence them and assist them to play better. 

The technic that we primarily examined to explore ki elements were yokomen uchi (strike to the side of the head) kokyu nage, kata tori (single hand shoulder grab) kokyu nage and finished the class with katate tori (single hand grab) tenkan ho (turning).  Ki is an essential element for getting to the root of what Aikido is about.  There is the martial component to Aikido that I love to examine but Sensei is trying to get us below the surface, beyond the physicalization (Tipton-ese word) of Aikido.  The physical side is easy to see, (nikyo, sankyo, irimi nage, etc) and that is important but what about what we cannot see.  We can’t see oxygen but it is very important to us to survive even more important than food and water and yet it is invisible and all around us much like ki.  We need to tap into that unlimited source of energy that extends far beyond our physical body.  It truly can be the “Ki to our Success” if we can find it and harness it. 

It was great fun, explorative, imaginative, frustrating, rewarding all rolled up into one.   I always welcome your comments and thoughts.  Have a great week AND BOLDLY GO WHERE NO ONE HAS GONE BEFORE (I finally got to see Star Trek  movie last weekend.  It was soooo good!)

The Maestro

2 comments:

Rolf Granlund said...

To the Maestro,

The martial application to Aikido is important. I very much agree with you. The dojo I had been training at was very much in that mindset. Having a deep exposure to Yoshinkan aikido helped with that.

But I know that the physical application of Aikido only goes so far. I appreciate that Jay Sensei urges us to move beyond just the physical appearance of Aikido and dig deep into the spiritual aspect. The amazing thing to me is that Jay Sensei is just as accomplished in both worlds.

Hope to see you in class tonight and hopefully discuss these things further.

May 20, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Maestro Man said...

Thanks Rolf for your thoughts. It is good that you had the Yoshinkan perspective. That makes you a strong practioner and great that you are open to other perspectives.

See you on the mat.

Peace,

Maestro

May 20, 2009 at 2:09 PM

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